按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
When Thais was seven years old； Ahmes began to talk to her of God。
〃The good Lord God；〃 he said； 〃lived in heaven like a Pharaoh； under
the tents of His harem； and under the trees of His gardens。 He was the
Ancient of Ancients； and older than the world； and He had but one Son；
the Prince Jesus； whom He loved with all His heart； and who surpassed
in beauty the virgins and the angels。 And the good Lord God said to
Prince Jesus
〃 'Leave My harem and My palace； and My date trees and My running
waters。 Descend to earth for the welfare of men。 There Thou shalt be
like a little child； and Thou shalt live poor amongst the poor。
Suffering shall be Thy daily bread； and Thou shalt weep so profusely
that Thy tears shall form rivers； in which the tired slave shall bathe
with delight。 Go； My Son！'
〃Prince Jesus obeyed the good Lord； and He came down to earth； to a
place named Bethlehem of Judaea。 And He walked in fields； amidst the
flowering anemones； saying to His companion
〃 'Blessed are they who hunger； for I will lead them to My Father's
table！ Blessed are they who thirst； for they shall drink of the
fountains of heaven！ Blessed are they who weep； for I will dry their
tears with veils finer than those of the almehs！'
〃That is why the poor loved Him； and believed in Him。 But the rich
hated Him； fearing that He should raise the poor above them。 At that
time； Cleopatra and Caesar were powerful on the earth。 They both hated
Jesus； and they ordered the judges and priests to put Him to death。 To
obey the Queen of Egypt； the princes of Syria erected a cross on a
high mountain； and they caused Jesus to die on this cross。 But women
washed His corpse； and buried it； and Prince Jesus； having broken the
door of His tomb； rose again to the good Lord； His Father。
〃And； from that time； all those who believed in Him go to heaven。
〃The Lord God opens His arms； and says to them
〃 'Ye are welcome； because ye love the Prince； My Son。 Wash； and then
eat。'
〃They bathe to the sound of beautiful music； and； all the time they
are eating； they see almehs dancing； and they listen to tales that
never end。 They are dearer to the good Lord God than the light of His
eyes； because they are His guests； and they shall have for their
portion the carpets of His house； and the pomegranates of His
gardens。〃
Ahmes often spoke in this strain； and thus taught the truth to Thais。
She wondered； and said
〃I should like to eat the pomegranates of the good Lord。〃
Ahmes replied
〃Only those who are baptised may taste the fruits of heaven。〃
And Thais asked to be baptised。 Seeing by this that she believed in
Jesus； the slave resolved to instruct her more fully； so that； being
baptised； she might enter the Church； and he loved her as his
spiritual daughter。
The child； unloved and uncared for by its selfish parents； had no bed
in the house。 She slept in a corner of the stable amongst the domestic
animals； and there Ahmes came to her every night secretly。
He gently approached the mat on which she lay； and sat down on his
heels； his legs bent and his body straighta position hereditary to
his race。 His face and his body； which was clothed in black； were
invisible in the darkness； but his big white eyes shone out； and there
came from them a light like a ray of dawn through the chinks of a
door。 He spoke in a husky； monotonous tone； with a slight nasal twang
that gave it the soft melody of music heard at night in the streets。
Sometimes the breathing of an ass； or the soft lowing of an ox；
accompanied； like a chorus of invisible spirits； the voice of the
slave as he recited the gospels。 His words flowed gently in the
darkness； which they filled with zeal； mercy； and hope； and the
neophyte； her hand in that of Ahmes； lulled by the monotonous sounds；
and the vague visions in her mind； slept calm and smiling； amid the
harmonies of the dark night and the holy mysteries； gazed down on by a
star； which twinkled between the joists of the stable…roof。
The initiation lasted a whole year； till the time when the Christians
joyfully celebrate the festival of Easter。 One night in the holy week；
Thais； who was already asleep on her mat； felt herself lifted by the
slave； whose eyes gleamed with a strange light。 He was clad； not as
usual in a pair of torn drawers； but in a long white cloak； beneath
which he pressed the child； whispering to her
〃Come； my soul！ Come； light of my eyes！ Come； little sweetheart！ Come
and be clad in the baptismal robes！〃
He carried the child pressed to his breast。 Frightened and yet
curious； Thais； her head out of the cloak； threw her arms round her
friend's neck； and he ran with her through the darkness。 They went
down narrow； black alleys； they passed through the Jews' quarter； they
skirted a cemetery； where the osprey uttered its dismal cry； they
traversed an open space； passing under crosses on which hung the
bodies of victims； and on the arms of the crosses the ravens clacked
their beaks。 Thais hid her head in the slave's breast。 She did not
dare to peep out all the rest of the way。 Soon it seemed to her that
she was going down under ground。 When she reopened her eyes she found
herself in a narrow cave； lighted by resin torches； on the walls of
which were painted standing figures； which seemed to move and live in
the flickering glare of the torches。 They were men clad in long tunics
and carrying branches of palm； and around them were lambs； doves； and
tendrils of vine。
Amongst these figures； Thais recognised Jesus of Nazareth； by the
anemones flowering at his feet。 In the centre of the cave； near a
large stone font filled with water； stood an old man clad in a scarlet
dalmatic embroidered with gold； and on his head a low mitre。 His thin
face ended in a long beard。 He looked gentle and humble； in spite of
his rich costume。 This was Bishop Vivantius； an exiled dignitary of
the Church of Cyrene； who now gained his livelihood by weaving common
stuffs of goats' hair。 Two poor children stood by his side。 Close by；
an old negress unfolded a little white robe。 Ahmes set the child down
on the ground； and kneeling before the Bishop； said
〃Father； this is the little soul； the child of my soul。 I have brought
her that you may； according to your promise； and if it please your
holiness； bestow on her the baptism of life。〃
At these words the Bishop opened his arms； and showed his mutilated
hands。 His nails had been torn out because he had maintained the faith
in the days of persecution。 Thais was frightened； and threw herself
into the arms of Ahmes。 But the kind words of the priest reassured
her。
〃Fear nothing； dearly beloved little one。 Thou hast here a spiritual
father； Ahmes； who is called Theodore amongst the faithful； and a kind
mother in grace； who has prepared for thee； with her own hands； a
white robe。〃
And turning towards the negress
〃She is called Nitida；〃 he added； 〃and is a slave in this world； but
in heaven she will be a spouse of Jesus。〃
Then he said to the child neophyte
〃Thais； dost thou believe in God； the Father Almighty； and in His only
Son； who died for our salvation； and in all that the apostles taught？〃
〃